Link to Silver Metal Clay Diploma Holders

Link to Higher Diploma Page

Metal Clay

 

Imagine for a moment.....being able to bend, shape and texture metal with the ease of working in clay!

Metal Clay is a revolutionary material that can be worked in the same way as clay and when fired leaves your design with all its detail in pure silver. Texture, bead making and stone setting are given a whole new slant with metal clay.

PMC was originally created by Mitsubishi and Art Clay was created by Aida Chemicals in the late 1990's. The substance has been further developed into various different forms including clay, sheet, paste and syringe form as well as Bronze Clay, Copper Clay, Brass Clay and Steel Clay. Metal Clay has been perfected into a material which challenges any preconceived ideas about how precious metals must be worked.

Jewellers, ceramicists and artists will be impressed with the potential for a whole new way of working. It can take as little as 10 minutes in the kiln or five minutes with a gas torch for the metal clay to be fired. The silver or gold pieces can then be sent for hallmarking.

We designed the very first independent qualification for working with metal clay in 2007. The MCSJ Diploma in Silver Metal Clay Proficiency is now widely recognised as the most thorough and comprehensive metal clay qualification in the world. If you want to teach classes or work seriously with metal clay, this is the qualification for you. Read FAQ's about the Diploma here.

A key difference between the MCSJ Diploma and other metal clay training is our emphasis on traditional silverwork techniques which includes learning to make your own silver findings, making different types of earwires, making jumprings and soldering chain. You will learn to solder sterling silver onto metal clay and set stones using a traditional bezel setting with metal clay.

Another key difference with other metal clay qualifications is our brand neutral approach. Both brands of silver metal clay are included in our Diploma so you'll learn to work with a wide range of formulations and decide for yourself which you prefer, depending on what you want to achieve. Brand specific qualifications and training will not give you the complete picture and our tutors are experts at working with both brands and all formulations.

The Diploma in Silver Metal Clay Proficiency MCSJ Dip. MC

The Diploma in Silver Metal Clay Proficiency is free from any association with marketing, discounts or any particular supplier. Therefore it is a truly independent qualification and sets the new standard for excellence within the metal clay world. It is only taught by world renowned metal clay artists Lisa Cain and Julia Rai.

It consists of four grades:

There are two routes at Grade 4 so people can choose either to do the Teaching class or the Design and Construction class.

Grade 1 of the Silver Metal Clay Diploma is also available as a Home Study Course.

The course is recognised by the PMC Guild International and in fact the grades of competency greatly exceed the minimum requirements suggested by the PMC Guild.

Upon completion of all four grades, artists will be entitled to use the registered letters after their names. For example, Mary Maker MCSJ Dip. MC.

The names of our Metal Clay Diploma Graduates are displayed on our roll of honour page. We're proud of them, they have achieved a very high standard of workmanship so we like to recognise them publically.

The Higher Metal Clay Diploma HDMC

We continue to offer the most comprehensive metal clay training currently available anywhere in the world. In 2009 we introduced the ultimate training for artists working or teaching in metal clay. The Higher Metal Clay Diploma integrates the following three segments-

Grades 1-4 of the Diploma in Silver Metal Clay Proficiency (either Teaching and/or Design Construction Grade 4)

Art Clay Certification Level 1 and 2

Introduction to Bronze and Copper Clay

Our Diploma should not be confused with any other metal clay certification or qualification. This training stands alone for quality and depth.

No other course gives such a broad hands-on education covering all types of metal clay. You can study for this qualification gradually and each of the individual segments can stand alone as a significant achievement. If you already have our Silver Metal Clay Diploma you can simply ‘bolt on’ the additional Art Clay and Bronze and Copper Clay classes to progress to the Higher Metal Clay Diploma.

If you have the Art Clay Certification from another teacher, on production of your certificates you will be credited with this portion of the Higher Diploma.

Upon completion of all three segments, artists will be entitled to use the registered letters after their names. For example, Mary Maker HDMC

Art Clay Certification

Art Clay Certification has three steps. Level 1 introduces the basic techniques of working with Art Clay in all its forms. Seven projects are completed to specific standards during this three day course. On successful completion of the projects, you can teach Art Clay introductory classes with support from Art Clay World UK.

Art Clay Level 2 Certification builds on the basic skills and introduces new techniques like adding gold to your work and setting stones. This four day class in intense and the pace is faster than Level 1. On successful completion of the course pieces, you are then required to submit some certification pieces made after the course. Three pieces which fulfil specific criteria are sent for evaluation together with proof you own a kiln. Successful completion of this stage allows you to teach introductory, Level 1 and Level 2 Art Clay classes with support from Art Clay World UK. At MCSJ these certification classes are taught by Julia Rai.

Bronze clay beadBronze and Copper Clay Introduction

This class introduces you to the unpredictable and pioneering world of Bronze and Copper clay. Still very experimental, this material is probably the most anticipated development in the metal clay world ever. On the introductory course you'll learn how to work with Bronze and Copper clay, the similarities and differences with silver metal clay and its unique qualities.

Read FAQ's about our Silver Clay Diploma here

For more information about PMC, please see the PMC Guild UK website which is an excellent source of advice and developments.

For more information about Art Clay, please see the Art Clay World website which is an excellent source of advice and developments or the Art Clay World UK website for suppliers and information.

More information about everything to do with metal clay can be found at the Metal Clay Academy website.

 

The jewellery school is based near St Austell in Cornwall, UK and all jewellery making classes run in our well equipped workshop.

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